Heartwood Theater and Lincoln Academy Present Annual Youth Production

Collaborating with Lincoln Academy on extraordinary youth productions has been a Heartwood tradition for many years. “Combining personnel and financial resources from both entities provides the maximum opportunity for Midcoast students,” says Heartwood Board President, Pam Gormley. This year’s joint efforts will be showcased in the popular Broadway musical, Godspell. Brimming with toe-tappingly infectious tunes based on parables from the Gospel According to St. Matthew, this show opens October 19th under the direction of Griff Braley, Lincoln Academy Drama Teacher and Heartwood’s Artistic Director, and vocal director, Beth Preston.

Can this enthusiastic cast of student actors and musicians bring these well loved tunes and parables to life once more? “Absolutely,” says Braley, who participated in Godspell as a Medomak Valley High School student, in 1975. “The experience is certainly much different 30-some years later, but this material definitely stands the test of time.” As NY critic Roma Torre writes of the 2011 Broadway Revival, “Godspell turns out to be a 40-year-old relic that's surprisingly irresistible.”

Begun as a college project, the musical conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, moved to an off-Broadway debut in 1970 and has since been a favorite in professional revivals, colleges, and high schools.

Given the complex and expensive nature of these annual collaborative youth productions, students benefit greatly from Midcoast businesses, individuals, and foundations who believe in the value of performing arts in the lives of youth. Generous funding for Godspell is provided by Chesterfield Associates of Westport Island, Heartwood’s Season Sponsor - Bath Savings Institution, Season Youth Sponsor - Damariscotta Hardware, and anonymous foundations.

For an uplifting, upbeat evening of musical, magical performance, improvisation and fun, reserve your tickets now. And don’t forget - delicious culinary opportunities await you, with Heartwood’s Dinner Partners: King Eider’s Pub, Salt Bay Café, Le Garage, Best Thai, Savory Maine, and Newcastle Publick House.

Evening performances in the Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy take place on October 19, 20, 25, 26, and 27 at 7:30 pm, with two 3:00 Sunday matinees on October 21 and 28. Tickets are $8 for students thru high school, $16 for adults. Seating is general, unless specially requested in advance. Reservations: 563-1373 or boxoffice@heartwoodtheater.org. For directions and details, visit www.heartwoodtheater.org. Presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI).